Skepchick Quickies 10.21

On October 21, 1921, George Melford’s film The Sheik premiered. This film is notable because it made a star out of Rudolph Valentino. (He is my second favorite sheik, though–the top spot goes to Frank Zappa as Sheik Yerbouti.)

• What People Really Think About Women, Men, and Feminists – An ad campaign featuring the Google Search Autocorrect Meme.
• A modest proposal to neutralize gerrymandering – If you’ve ever wondered why seemingly-crazy people get re-elected to office (I’m looking at you, Michelle Bachman), you may not be familiar with the concept of gerrymandering. (It’s a fun word to say, at least.)
• Oops! Etruscan Warrior Prince Really a Princess – From Michael.
• The Quackish Cult of Alternative Medicine: Dr. Paul Offit’s battle against charlatanism.
• Inside the Fox News lie machine: I fact-checked Sean Hannity on Obamacare – Trigger warning for people who are upset by the “liberal bias” of reality. From miserlyoldman.
• My son is not the poster child for the Right to Life movement – I also just want to add that I’m glad that my mother is pro-choice.
• Can Rand Paul Learn to Tell the Truth? – “The Kentucky senator and presidential hopeful has charisma, fundraising power, and new ideas. Now if can only resolve his sticky habit for bending the facts.”
• The Man Who Forgot Everything – A review of Suzanne Corkin’s new book.

BONUS: What Science Fiction or Fantasy Show Should Come With a Warning Label? (I agree about the Buffy label–I hated The Master so much.) From Andy. Also, this: A Conservative Guide to Rhetoric, from the New Yorker’s humor column, sprinkled with bits of truth.